Clique

Preceded only by Girtin's Sketching club, the Clique was one of the first artists' clubs in Britain, active from 1838-1842. Established by a group of friends who were studying at The Royal Academy and felt restricted by the traditional style of tuition, the meetings were usually hosted by Richard Dadd, at his lodgings on Queen Street, London. The group would meet weekly to draw and discuss art, finishing their sessions with refreshments and a review of the evening's work. Their work was heavily influenced by literature and narrative, a theme that can be seen in some of their later individual and collaborative works. This informal art group structure would become a model for future cliques such as the St. John's Wood group.